Geoegb ceouch



(No Model.)

G. CROUCH.

TRUNK LID STAY.

Patented Dec. 21, 1886,

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N4 PETERS. PhOIoLilhngmphnn Washington. Dv C.

NITED S). ATES PATENT Orrrcn.

GEORGE CROUCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRUNK-LID STAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,596, dated Decemberzl, 1886.

Application filed July 19, 1856.

Serial No. 208,457. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, itimrty concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ORoUcH, of the city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Trunk-Lid Stays, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of trunks it is usual to fasten a diagonal tape or strap at each end, between the body of the trunk and the lid, to hold the lid in a nearly vertical position, so that it will not fall over backwardl y but these flexible straps do not prevent the lid falling down and closing accidentally, and personal injury often arises from this cause.

In some instances a metal brace or stay has U been applied for holding the trunk-lid when opened so that it will not move in either direction until a spring-latch or similar device is acted upon to allow the necessary movement of the parts.

My present invention is made for holding the trunk-lid when opened so, that it will neither fall back nor shutdown until the stay itself is moved by hand. I provide a slotted rail upon the body of the trunk, and a staybar pivoted at one end to the lid and having at the other end projecting lugs that come above and below the slotted rail, so that the lugs below the slotted rail prevent the lid falling back and the lugs above the slotted rail act against pawl-projections upon the slotted rail to prevent the lid closing until the stay is lifted and the lugs thereof pass over the pawl-projections and slide upon the surface of the rail as the trunk-lid is closed. I

In the drawings, Figure l is a partial sect-ionof a trunk body and lid, with the slotted rail and stay in the position for use, the dotted lines representing the parts when the lid is closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stay and slotted rail detached. Fig. 3 is a section of the stay and slotted rail at the line x :r, Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a section of the rail at theline y y, Fig. 21

The stay A is made with a bent or inclined end, 4, through which passes a screw or nail, 5, by which the stay is pivoted to the trunklid 0, and at the other end of this stay there are pairs of lugs 2 and 3.

The slotted rail B is fastened to the body D of the trunk, at the top edge of one or both ends of the said body. The slot 6 in said rail B is wide enough for the stay A to slide back pair of lugs 3 below the same. This slotted preferably by a downward projection or projections,l7, through a hole in which passes a rivet or nail; and upon the upper surface of the slotted rail B there are pawl-projections 8, near the back end. I

It will now be understood that when the trunk-lid is lifted the stay A is moved along so that the lugs 2 draw along upon the upper surface of the slotted rail and pass up over the pawl-projections 8 and fall, and when the center of gravity of the lid passes over the hinges the lid tends to fall backwardly, but its movement is limited by the lugs 3 belowtheslotted rail. If, now, the lidof the trunk falls or commences to move downwardly, the lugs 2 come into contact with the ends of the pawlprojections 8, and the motion is limited thereby, so that the lid cannot fall until the stay is lifted for the lugs 2 to pass over the pawl-projections 8, after which the lid can be closed, as usual.

It is generally preferable to apply a stay at each end of the trunk,- but with many trunks only a single stay is needed.

WVhen the slotted rail. is made of malleable cast-iron it can generally be sprung apart sufficiently to allow the lugs 2 to be passed through; but, if desired, notches at 10 may be left to allow the passage of the lugs 2 or 3 when the staybar is threaded into and through the slot of the rail,

I claim as my invention- 1. The trunk-lid stay having the projections 2 and 3 upon the same, in combination with the slotted rail attached to the body of the trunk and having the pawl-projecti0ns 8, with GEO. CROUCH.

Witnesses:

GEo. T. PINOKNEY, WILLIAM G. More 

